German-Canadian company Rock Tech Lithium, which is developing refining capacity in Europe, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese cathode active materials producer Ronbay Technology aimed at creating an integrated lithium-ion battery materials supply chain in Europe.
Rock Tech will provide long-term supply of battery-grade lithium hydroxide to Ronbay’s cathode production facilities in Europe, which will produce battery-related components to meet European EV and energy storage requirements.
Ronbay will offer direct support, including technical resources and potential investment, to help advance Rock Tech’s converter project in Guben, Germany on the German-Polish border. The companies will also collaborate on market development, including supporting Ronbay’s European expansion in the battery and automotive sectors.
Ronbay specializes in the research, production and sales of cathode materials for lithium and sodium batteries. Its product portfolio includes mid- and high-nickel ternary cathode materials, lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), sodium-ion battery cathode materials and precursor materials for cathode active materials (pCAMs).
Ronbay acquired a former Johnson Matthey cathode materials facility in Konin, Poland. The basic infrastructure is complete, including factory buildings, laboratory buildings and auxiliary facilities, and necessary environmental assessment procedures are in place.
Equipment installation for Phase I of the project, which will have the capacity to produce 25,000 tons of mid-nickel/high-nickel ternary materials annually—enough for about 500,000 EVs—is progressing steadily. It is expected to be completed in 2025, and commercial production is set to follow in 2026.
“Ronbay’s interest in sourcing lithium locally produced in Europe is a clear signal of strategic alignment. This partnership will act as a flywheel, accelerating and amplifying our shared commitment to building a resilient battery value chain in Europe,” said Mirco Wojnarowicz, CEO of Rock Tech Lithium. “With Ronbay’s technical expertise and local CAM operations in Europe, we enhance our ability to fast-track execution and scale operations with greater efficiency.”
Source: Rock Tech Lithium